United Divide

United Divide was inspired by the 2016 Presidential Election, and how its outcome affected my family as well as countless other minority families living in the US. However, this piece isn't about hatred and betrayal, but the ways in which adveristy brings us closer together, as we continue fighting for equal rights for everyone, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or class.

Pain, we feel it every day Anger, we feel it every day Betrayal, we feel it every day Hatred, we feel it every day

In a world overshadowed by fear It’s hard to see the light So we shed tear after tear Because we know we’re losing the fight Our government should be fair We’re America, after all But The Constitution on which we swear Has far too many faults Freedom of Speech is our first right Yet every day and every night Silence is our protocol Because it’s never the man’s error When a woman succumbs to assault Or when a family on welfare Are told they’re lesser Even though democracy screams; “Freedom for one and all!”

There are no shades of gray Between the anger and the pain That seek vengeance on those who betray And trigger the hatred we feel every day

Who cares if I’m gay? Or Latino, Hindi, or black? My skin doesn’t define me So don’t give me this flack Or tell me I’m unimportant for being an independent woman Or that I should be deported for fleeing Afghanistan Because America was the only way To save my family from the Taliban

The world’s a scary place So we bow our heads and pray To a God we’re losing trust in every single day Because this pain and anger and betrayal just won’t go away

Then hatred blinds us, and we forget how far we’ve come Since our ancestors walked this ground And while our work here isn’t done The progress is profound On August 18th, 1920, women were allowed to vote On May 17th, 1954, Congress passed Board vs Brown July 2nd, 1964 brought forth the Civil Rights Act Fifty-four years, we watched as President Obama was crowned Opinions may vary but there’s no changing facts When on June 16th, 2015, anyone can marry Whomever they attract

Because love always trumps hate No matter the president No matter the state No matter the torment We are America the Brave And we must stand united For it is the only way

So to the African Americans being attacked by racists To the women who think they’re not enough To the children who cut their wrists To the LGBT community who are told they cannot love To the Muslims who are on blacklists To the immigrants struggling to coexist To all the diamonds in the rough Better days will come Because despite the hatred that still exists Our fight isn’t done And it will continue to persist Until we have won

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